Old age psychiatry: Questions

ABSTRACTBackground: There are a number of models of patient and carer participation. Their usefulness and applicability to old age psychiatry is considered.Methods: Models of participation are reviewed and related to examples of participation initiatives drawn from the author's work in the context of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.Results: Models of participation which emphasize collaboration and partnership are found to be useful. Simple interventions such as copying letters to patients and/or carers can lead to change in the balance of power between staff and patients/carers. Initiatives which draw on the experiences of patients and carers can facilitate organizational learning and development. Involving patients and carers in education offers a way to influence services and the staff working in them.Conclusion: Participation is better understood as a spectrum rather than a hierarchy. Old age psychiatry services would benefit from developing greater patient and carer participation at all levels.

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Mania in late life

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment ◽

10.1192/apt.bp.110.008300 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 357-364

Author(s):

Felicity Richards ◽

Martin Curtice

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Old Age ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Late Life ◽

Aging Population ◽

Age Group ◽

Treatment Algorithms ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Old Age Psychiatry ◽

Older Populations

SummaryMania in late life is a serious disorder that demands specialist assessment and management. However, it is greatly under-researched, with only a paucity of studies specifically analysing older populations. The mainstay of the old age psychiatry workload will inevitably be concerned with assessing and managing dementia and depression, but the steady rise in the aging population with longer survival means that there will be an increase in absolute numbers of older people presenting with mania. There are no specific treatment algorithms available for mania in late life. This article reviews mania and hypomania in late life and concentrates on diagnosis, assessment and treatment, as well as on the management considerations associated with this important age group.

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